Tanya Bradley, manager of student leadership and engagement at Brock University, said making new friends can be as easy as leaving your dorm room door open or joining a campus club.
Tanya Bradley, manager of student leadership and engagement at Brock University, said making new friends can be as easy as leaving your dorm room door open or joining a campus club.
The first few weeks of school are an exciting time at universities and colleges said Tanya Bradley, but it can also be one of mixed emotions for some students who find themselves away from home or on their own for the first time.
鈥淭here are a lot of complexities and emotions that students feel when they transition from high school,鈥 said Bradley, who is the manager of student leadership and engagement at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont.
鈥淚t really is a mix. We will see students who are so excited, we will find students who are completely lost trying to find their way to their first classes. And, we see a lot of uncertainty and shyness, but equally as much excitement to start a new chapter in their life.鈥
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She said one common emotion some first-year students feel is loneliness or an uncertainty they will be able to make new friends.
鈥淚t is something I think about all the time in my role,鈥 said Bradley, who adds that many post-secondary institutions, including Brock, are proactive when it comes to getting new students accustomed to campus life during the summer before they arrive in September.
鈥淲e offer programs and opportunities to make friends, to get connected with staff, to learn more about what they can expect from their experience. So, there are ways, even before September, that students can participate in opportunities that allow them to build connections with other peers and the campus.鈥
While orientation or welcome week can be a whirlwind of activities and events, Bradley said that after the first few weeks at school the momentum does swing more toward academics and students might find themselves feeling alone again. Here is her advice on what students can do to make new friends.
Look for ways to connect
鈥淕et involved outside of the classroom and really try to find your passion besides what you are working on academically. There are so many different ways to do it,鈥 said Bradley.
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As part of her job, she manages the ExperienceBU portal that lists all types of activities on campus and in the community, allowing students to connect with clubs, organizations, workshops, services and co-curricular experiences.
鈥淚 would encourage students to jump in and take a chance and attend an event that they are interested in 鈥 and have the opportunity to meet other like-minded students. It really means you can have a well-rounded experience,鈥 she said. 鈥淏y getting involved you also learn so much about yourself.鈥
Start a conversation
Bradley said that welcome week on Brock鈥檚 campus included workshops on how to break the ice and speak to strangers. 鈥淟iterally, it is about how to say 鈥榟ello鈥 and make a new friend,鈥 she said. This could include starting small talk with a fellow student in a class you are taking or, for example, speaking to someone standing next to you in line at a campus event.
鈥淲hat we have been seeing on our campus is that this has always been an issue,鈥 she said about learning to start a conversation. 鈥淏ut throw two years of virtual learning into the mix and we are seeing such a difference in our student population. They became so comfortable behind a screen, and a lot of people became accustomed to learning and having social interactions online and not in person.鈥
Try leaving your door open
For students who live in on-campus residence, Bradley recommends they participate in some of the activities that might be planned for their building or floor. 鈥淩esidences hold so many events where there is an opportunity to make connections with the other students.鈥
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And, since pandemic rules about socially isolating are now lifted, there is nothing wrong with leaving your dorm room door open 鈥 someone passing by may notice you have the same taste in music or invite you to an informal movie night or gathering taking place down the hall.
Don鈥檛 be scared to access supports
For students who are having difficulty making friends or are feeling lonely, Bradley said universities and colleges have mental health and wellness resources, like the Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre at Brock, where they can access supports.
She said this might include fact or tip sheets, online resources and workshops, one-on-one in-person counselling sessions or even mentoring programs where you are paired with an upper year student.
鈥淭hey can provide such a wide variety of supports,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t really depends on the student鈥檚 individual needs.鈥
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